Sunday, 14 April 2013

Action needed as Child injured by a Horse in Bray Housing Estate

Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady is calling for action to be taken bythe local authorities in Wicklow to deal with the issue of horseswithin housing estates. This follows a recient incident in a housingestate in Bray where a child was kicked by a horse.

Cllr Brady stated "On Monday last a child who was walking acrosspublic open space in the Fassaroe estate in Bray was kicked by a horsethat was being kept in the area. Thankfully the child was notseriously injured, however it is only a matter of time before someoneis seriously injured if immediate action is not taken by the localauthorties in Wicklow to deal with this problem that has dramaticallyincreased over the last number of years."

Cllr Brady continued "I have been contacted by residents from acrossWicklow in relation to horses that are being kept within housingestates, it has become a very serious and dangerous problemparticularly in urban areas. There are problems with the horsesstraying, roaming, causing danger on roads and being ridden withoutproper restraint by underage riders. Under the Control of Horses Act1996 the County Council is responsible for the control of horseswithin their area. Wicklow County Council has the power to appointauthorised persons to deal with any problems relating to the controlof horses. Authorised persons have the power to seize and impoundhorses, impose an on-the-spot fine and take court proceedings againstowners."

"I don't have any problems with responsible people keeping horses oncethey have the proper facilities to do so. Keeping them within housingestates is totally inappropriate and dangerous and has to be stopped.It is creating huge problems not only with regards to public safetybut also for animal welfare. Local authorities must tackle thisproblem before a child is seriously injured or worse." Ends